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The Bedford Researcher

Customer Reviews

FabulousMarch 15, 2011by Renee

This is a very good purchase. I was highly impressed with the price; I paid half the amount that I would have if I had gone through any other book store. Shipped fast, too! The book is a great reference for essays and other writing professionals. It is very simple and organized and it helped me so much in my career. I strongly recommend this textbook.

The Bedford Researcher with 2009 MLA and 2010 APA Updates:
4 out of
5
stars based on
1 user reviews.

Summary

Tech-savvy and student-friendly, The Bedford Researcher addresses the kinds of writing students actually do and the kinds of sources they actually use. It follows real student writers from their initial research questions all the way to designing their final essays, integrating electronic sources and tools into each stage of the process. Clearly organized and readable, The Bedford Researcher strips away the complexities of research writing and empowers students to write with confidence.

"The Bedford Researcher helps my students develop the skills they need to research responsibly in today’s digital environment."- Robbin Zeff, George Washington University

Author Biography

Mike Palmquist, Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Colorado State University, is nationally recognized for his work in computer-supported writing instruction. He directs CSU’s Institute for Learning and Teaching, co-directs the Center for Research on Writing and Communication Technologies, and developed Writing@CSU (http://writing.colostate.edu), a model writing center Web site at Colorado State University. Palmquist is the author of numerous articles and essays on writing and teaching with technology and the founding editor of Academic Writing, a refereed journal on communication across the curriculum.In 2004, he received the Charles Moran Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field, which recognizes "exemplary scholarship and professional service to the field of computers and writing."

Table of Contents

PREFACE FOR INSTRUCTORS

INTRODUCTION FOR WRITERS

I Joining the Conversation

1 Getting Started

1a How can I research and write with confidence?

1b How can I choose an appropriate topic?

2 Exploring and Narrowing Your Topic

2a How can I explore my topic?

2b How can I narrow my topic?

3 Developing Your Research Question and Proposal

3a How can I develop my research question?

3b What is a research proposal and how can I create one?

II Working with Sources

4 Reading Critically

4a How does reading critically differ from evaluating?

4b How can I use my research question to read critically?

4c How can I read with an attitude?

4d What strategies can I use to read actively?

4e What should I pay attention to as I read?

4f How many times should I read a source?

5 Evaluating Sources

5a What factors should I use to evaluate a source?

5b Should I evaluate all types of sources in the same way?

6 Taking Notes

6a How can I record my notes?

6b What methods can I use to take notes and avoid plagiarism?

7 Avoiding Plagiarism

7a What is plagiarism?

7b What are research ethics?

7c What is common knowledge?

7d What is "fair use" and when should I ask permission to use a source?

7e Why do writers plagiarize?

7f How can I avoid plagiarism?

7g What should I do if I’m accused of plagiarism?

III Collecting Information

8 Planning Your Search for Information

8a How can I create a search plan?

8b How can I create a schedule to carry out my plan?

8c How can I find out if my plan is a good one?

9 Searching for Information with Electronic Resources

9a How can I search for sources with online library catalogs?

9b How can I search for sources with databases?

9c How can I search for sources with Web search sites?

9d How can I search for sources with media search sites?

10 Searching for Information with Print Resources

10a How can I use the library stacks to locate sources?

10b How can I use a library periodicals room to locate sources?

10c How can I use a library reference room to locate sources?

11 Searching for Information with Field Research Methods

11a How can I use interviews to collect information?

11b How can I use observation to collect information?

11c How can I use surveys to collect information?

11d How can I use correspondence to collect information?

11e How can I use public events and broadcast media to collect information?

12 Managing Information

12a How can I save and organize the information I find?

12b How can I create a bibliography

IV Writing Your Document

13 Developing, Supporting, and Organizing Your Ideas

13a How can I develop my thesis statement?

13b How can I support my thesis statement?

13c How should I organize my document?

14 Drafting

14a How can I use my outline to draft my document?

14b How can I draft effective paragraphs?

14c How can I draft my introduction?

14d How can I present evidence for my points?

14e How can I make sure my document is easy to follow?

14f How can I make my document more readable?

14g How can I draft my conclusion?

14h How should I document my sources?

15 Integrating Sources to Frame Your Argument and Avoid Plagiarism

15a How can I use source information to accomplish my purposes as a writer?